Blood pressure fear

[Rapto]

Ok I’m 68 years old Diagnosed with high BP. Doc wants a better reading so has me on a 24 hour cup. Each time it starts every 30 mins my anxiety goes through the roof and the numbers scare the heck out of me. I get how crazy this is but I can’t seem to get it under control. Thoughts anyone

[Indigojoe]

This happened to me last Tuesday.

New doc , had to ask for a refill of my meds.

When I walked in the aid wanted to take my BP, I said Please wait until the visit is over.

She was hell bent on taking my BP.

She walked around me, from side to side pretending to talk to me to " calm me down"

I said NO do not take it.

That ass, said, I AM GOING TO TAKE YOUR BP.

and she did, and I did not have authority over myself, she did not listen to me, and BOOM,

SKY HIGH BP.

So the entire visit was about my BP and HYPERTENSION and danger, danger danger.

They insisted I get a cuff and take my BP every day for a month.

FOR the love of PETE, as you know, THAT wasn't going to work because the moment I have to take it, or a test, or being judged, or to ask for my meds to be refilled, my anxiety kicks in like yours does.

WHen I am calm, I am TOTALLY FINE.........

I am not doing the BP thing every freakin day...........SOme of us are just wired to react I think.

I don't know what to tell you, except if you can set your cuff to take your bp just before you wake up, you might get a good reading.......

So glad I am not alone in this stuff....

[Rapto in reply to Indigojoe]

As the evening wore on and I got weary, guess what, my BP reading gets respectable! Hoping while I slumber it remains so. But a question does arise, how do the docs know the difference between a reading fuelled by one’s anxiety and a real reading? Do they average them all together because if so that would be far from accurate!

[foxglove_pnw in reply to Rapto]

That is a good question ! I have no idea how they would know. I have a friend who is a nurse and she usually ask her patiences to take 2 deep breaths before taking a reading. It totally helps.

In your case , I think you should talk to your doctor about your anxiety and see what he says.

[Jodz]

It’s only for 24 hours , so I would be doing it . I’m on meds for high bp and I have massive spikes and then it can be really low . I was actually going to ask if I could have one on so I would know what’s going on .

Good luck

[foxglove_pnw]

HI Rapto,

I can relate as I don't like taking my blood pressure. My blood pressure would spike when I was off my antidepressants due to anxiety . One time I went to the ER with a 180/110 reading from anxiety.

Now that I am back on my meds and I lost weight my blood pressure is amazing. It is usually 96/66 !!

Hang in there , It is going to be over before you know.

[Hidden]

You are expecting it to be high so you panic mine was low and had monitor and I expect it to be low when it was it fuel my anxiety. Try deep breathing when it goes off.

[Want2BHappy3]

Gosh, I think you wearing a cup 24 hours could be causing you to have Hbp? I've never heard of that? Your anxiety is going to cause your blood pressure to rise. I'm 64 and only had Hbp readying twice, I've been lucky, both of my parents have Hbp. Are you under a hospitals care? Hang in there. Let us know how your doing.

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Rapto, I have treated high blood pressure and definitely react to having my blood pressure read both at the doctors and at home.In fact my husband takes my readings and doesn't tell me what they are as the moment I get a slightly higher reading I get anxious and the next reading absolutely booms up.I've never liked having it measured but getting diagnosed out of the blue with a reading of 244/133 certainly didn't help.Of course, some of that reading would be due to anxiety.It is definitely a good idea to get 24 hour readings.I didn't get that as it was clear they needed to treat me ASAP but I would like it done at some point. The thing that strikes me is that those of us with white coat syndrome react to having it measured but I'm sure we react strongly to other stressors also.Although I hate the medication and am struggling with terrible side effects, which probably necessitates some changes, I feel somewhat safer being treated as well.Hope it goes well for you.

[Dixie9326]

I can understand white coat syndrome,I have it.. but I realize that if my anxiety increases my bp at the Dr’s office, it probably reads high with other times of anxiety . High bp is a silent killer so I decided to take a low dose bp med to cover my ongoing anxiety spikes...it gets a little low at times but better than high pressure on my blood vessels, even if it is only intermittent.

I’m a retired Emergency Dept RN and feel my decision is wise

[Gambit62]

I hate having my blood pressure taken - I find it extremely painful so get very stressed which just pushes the numbers up. You most definitely aren't alone but I tend not to worry about the readings because I know they are likely to be pants.